Puzzle-Based Learning
Puzzle-Based Learning
Non-Mechanical: Logic & Math, Language, Visual & Spatial, Memory
Non-Mechanical: Logic & Math, Language, Visual & Spatial, Memory
Mechanical Puzzles & ManipulativesBooks: Math & Logic Puzzle CollectionsBooks: Math Analysis of Games & PuzzlesBooks: Math PedagogyBooks: Research & Professional Development
puzzles & mental activities that enhance critical and creative thinking skills
National Puzzlers’ LeagueThe National Puzzlers’ League (the NPL), founded in 1883, is the world’s oldest puzzlers organization. League members enjoy many types of puzzles, including: anagrams, crosswords, cryptic crosswords, cryptograms, palimdromes.
Online Guide to the Enigmaan online guide to over 100 puzzle variations found in the NPL's Enigma newsletter
National Puzzlers' League (wikipedia)
Online Guide to the Enigmaan online guide to over 100 puzzle variations found in the NPL's Enigma newsletter
National Puzzlers' League (wikipedia)
Restak, R., & Kim, S. (2011). The playful brain: The surprising science of how puzzles improve your mind.
Bellos, A. (2018). Puzzle ninja: Pit your wits against the Japanese puzzle masters.
[An excellent history & introduction to Japanese pencil & paper logic games featuring handcrafted examples of over 20 types of puzzles.]
[An excellent history & introduction to Japanese pencil & paper logic games featuring handcrafted examples of over 20 types of puzzles.]
Collections
Logic & Math PuzzlesCollections
Canada, D., & Goering, D. (2008, May). Deep thoughts on the river crossing game. Mathematics Teacher, 101(9), pp. 632-639.
Reiter, H. B., Thornton, J., and Vennebush, G. P. (2013, December). Using KenKen to build reasoning skills.Mathematics Teacher, 107(5), pp. 341-347.
Wanko, J. J., & Nickell, J. V. (2013, October). Reinforcing geometric properties with shapedoku puzzles. Mathematics Teacher, 107(3), pp. 188-194.
Wanko, J. (2009, November). Japanese logic puzzles and proof. Mathematics Teacher, 103(4), pp. 266-271.
Wanko, J. J. (2017, March). Teaching inductive reasoning with puzzles. Mathematics Teacher, 110(7), pp. 514-519.[Faibu Seruzu, Hashiwokakakero, Kakuro, Sudoku]
Reiter, H. B., Thornton, J., and Vennebush, G. P. (2013, December). Using KenKen to build reasoning skills.Mathematics Teacher, 107(5), pp. 341-347.
Wanko, J. J., & Nickell, J. V. (2013, October). Reinforcing geometric properties with shapedoku puzzles. Mathematics Teacher, 107(3), pp. 188-194.
Wanko, J. (2009, November). Japanese logic puzzles and proof. Mathematics Teacher, 103(4), pp. 266-271.
Wanko, J. J. (2017, March). Teaching inductive reasoning with puzzles. Mathematics Teacher, 110(7), pp. 514-519.[Faibu Seruzu, Hashiwokakakero, Kakuro, Sudoku]
Cnceptis Puzzles (2006). White belt Kakuro: 150 puzzles.
Cnceptis Puzzles (2006). Green belt Kakuro: 150 puzzles.
Femiano, R. (2017). Balance benders, Level 1.(Grades 4-8)
Femiano, R. (2010). Balance benders, Level 2.(Grades 4-8)
Femiano, R. (2017). Balance benders: Logic and algebraic reasoning puzzles, Level 3 (Grades 8-12+).
Curtis, P. (2018). Logical leaps and landings: An adalogical aenigmas collection - 24 handcrafted logic puzzles ranging from challenging to exceedingly difficult.
Grabarchuk, S, Grabarchuk, T., Grabarchuk, P. Grabarchuk, H. (2017). Strimko 5x5: 150 medium number logic puzzles.
Grabarchuk, S, Grabarchuk, T., Grabarchuk, P. Grabarchuk, H. (2017). Strimko 5x5: 150 medium number logic puzzles.
Grabarchuk, S, Grabarchuk, T., Grabarchuk, P. Grabarchuk, H. (2017). Strimko 6x6: 150 hard number logic puzzles.
Inaba, N., & Murakami, R. (2017). The original area mazes: 100 addictive puzzles to solve with simple math and clever logic!
Inaba, N., & Murakami, R. (2018). The original area mazes, volume 2: 100 more addictive puzzles to solve with simple math and clever logic!
Kimball, R. (2013). Path puzzles.
Kumar, N. (2019). Logitica: Learn logic and math together
Puzzle Types:Average CellMarbles in a BoxNumber BoxNumber CrossNumber PyramidNumber Pyramid - Adv.Wisgo Number Tile
Puzzle Types:Average CellMarbles in a BoxNumber BoxNumber CrossNumber PyramidNumber Pyramid - Adv.Wisgo Number Tile
Kumar, N. (2019). Logitica: Improve your critical thinking and problem solving skills - the brain behind the brain.
Puzzle Types:Arithmetic CellAverage CellBrick WallI/O Arithmetic BoxLock & KeyLost AntNumber BoxNumber CrossNumber PyramidNumber SequenceMarbles in a BoxWisgo Number Tile
Puzzle Types:Arithmetic CellAverage CellBrick WallI/O Arithmetic BoxLock & KeyLost AntNumber BoxNumber CrossNumber PyramidNumber SequenceMarbles in a BoxWisgo Number Tile
Kumar, N. (2019). Number pyramid.
Puzzle Types:Number Pyramid(3, 4, 5, 6 rows & beyond)
Puzzle Types:Number Pyramid(3, 4, 5, 6 rows & beyond)
McMullen, C. (2018). Pyramid math puzzle challenge: Can you fill in the missing numbers?
Mindware Math perplexors: Level A. (ages 8-9)
Mindware. Perplexors: Level C. (grades 6-7)
Mindware. Perplexors: More level C. (grades 6-7)
Mindware. Math perplexors: Level B. (ages 9-10)
Mindware. Grid perplexors: Level D. (ages 12-14)
Miyamoto, T. (2013). White belt KenKen: 300 puzzles.
Miyamoto, T. (2013). Green belt KenKen: 300 puzzles.
Rios, M. (2005). White belt Sudoku.
Rios, M. (2005). Green belt Sudoku.
Schmittberger, R. Wayne. (2016). Montague island mysteries and other logic puzzles.
Tanton, J. (2016). Without words: Mathematical puzzles to confound and delight.
Tanton, J. (2016). More without words: Mathematical puzzles to confound and delight.
Collections
Language PuzzlesCollections
Merrin, J. (2019). Cryptograms: 200 large print cyrptogram puzzles of inspiration, motivation, and wisdom.
Moorey, T. (2014). The Times how to crack cryptic crosswords.
Collections
BooksCollections
Comprehensive Cognitive WorkoutsLogic & Math, Language, Visual & Spatial, Memory
Books
Books
Kim, S. (2014). The little book of big mind benders: Over 450 word puzzles, number stumpers, riddles, brainteasers, and visual conundrums.
Linde, N. (2012). 399 games, puzzles & trivia challenges specially designed to keep your brain young.
Primarily language & visual puzzles
Primarily language & visual puzzles
Linde, N. (2016). 417 more games, puzzles & trivia challenges specially designed to keep your brain young.
Primarily language & visual puzzles
Primarily language & visual puzzles
Publications International (2007). Brain Games #1: Lower your brain age in minutes per day.
Publications International (2007). Brain Games #3: Lower your brain age in minutes per day.
Publications International (2007). Brain Games #4: Lower your brain age in minutes per day.
Apps & Websites
Apps & Websites
Discovery Learning website that can create a wide variety of puzzles: criss-cross, cryptograms, double puzzles, fallen phrases, hidden message, letter tiles, math squares, number blocks, word search
An app used to participate in a community of puzzle solvers and creators. Designed by the legendary Grabarchuk Family.
Sites
Sites
Logic & Math Puzzles
Logic & Math Puzzles
Thousands of puzzles, especially strong in Japanese design logic/math puzzles (interactive)
Tom Snyder's blog featuring 50+ types of logic/math puzzles by top designers. Well organized with historical descriptions of each type of puzzle. Also see Tom's Friday Series (print)
Kakuro, Slitherlink, Sudoku, and other puzzle types, including an educator section (print)
20 years of monthly difficult puzzles from the IBM Research Lab (print)
Many types of puzzles, including Kakuro, Slitherlink, Sudoku, Suguru (interactive, print)
Remedial math resources, including math/logic puzzles, word problems, and worksheets (print)
Many types of logic, math, and word puzzles, including crossword, word search, acrostic, cryptogram, Sudoku, Mathdoku (print)
High quality, logic & word search puzzles (interactive, print, mobile app)
Q&A for those who create, solve, and study puzzles - over 15,000 topics
Logic, math, and science puzzles (print)
Classifications
of Logic & Math, Language Puzzles(w/ links to puzzles & rules)Classifications
Nikoli Puzzle Classifications (wikipedia)
Nikoli Puzzle Encyclopedia (English)
Puzzles A-Z Guide (puzzlers.com)
World Puzzle Championship (wikipedia)
World Sudoku Championship (wikipedia)
Inkies, KenKen
@Krazydad(print)
aka Calcudoku, Mathdoku
aka Calcudoku, Mathdoku
@KenKen Official Site(interactive, print, mobile app)
@Math in English(print)
aka Calcudoku, Mathdoku
aka Calcudoku, Mathdoku
Loop/Path
Area 51, Balance Loop, Bridges, Castle Wall, Masyu, Round Trip, Slitherlink, Snake, Tapa-Like Loop, Tracks, Yajilin@The Griddle(print)
@Math in English(print)
@Math in English(print)
@Grandmaster Puzzles(print)
@Daily Kwon-Tom Loop (interactive)
aka Fences, Kwon-Tom Loop
aka Fences, Kwon-Tom Loop
@The Griddle(print)
@Krazydad(print)
@Grandmaster Puzzles(print)
@Grandmaster Puzzles(print)
Matchsticks
Maze
Number Placement
Cross Math, Futoshiki, Hitori, Kakuro, Krypto Kakuro, Mathrix, Numbrix, Ripple Effect, Skyscrapers, Strimko, Suguru, TomTomSee also: Sudoku Family@Math in English(print)
@Krazydad(Interactive, print)
@Math in English(print)
aka More or Less
aka More or Less
@The Griddle(print)
@Krazydad(interactive, print)
@Math in English(print)
@KrazyDad(print)
@Math in English(print)
@Math in English(print)
@Krazydad(interactive, print)
@Puzzlers Paradise(interactive)
Object Placement
Battleships, Minesweeper, Star Battle, Statue Park@Krazydad(interactive, print)
@Krazydad(interactive, print)
Region Division
Araf, Cave, Fillomino, Kuromasu, Pentominous, Snake Pit, Spiral Galaxies@Grandmaster Puzzles(print)
@Grandmaster Puzzles(print)
(a number placement puzzle family)
@KrazyDad(interactive, print)
@Math in English(print)
@The Griddle(print)
@KrazyDad(interactive, online)
@KrazyDad(print)
@KrazyDad(interactive, online)
aka Irregular, Nonomino, Geometric
aka Irregular, Nonomino, Geometric
@The Griddle(print)
@Math in English(print)
aka Killer Sudoku
aka Killer Sudoku
@The Griddle(print)
aka Killer Sudoku
aka Killer Sudoku
@Krazydad(interactive, print)
aka Killer Sudoku
aka Killer Sudoku